What defines the Cospas-Sarsat system in a distress scenario?

Answer

An international satellite-based distress alert system

The Cospas-Sarsat system serves as the global infrastructure for distress alert and location determination. It functions by receiving transmissions from Emergency Position-Indicating Radiobeacons (EPIRBs) via a network of satellites. Once a distress signal is received and processed, the system provides an initial location estimate, which is vital for search teams to mobilize and narrow down the search area, ultimately bridging the gap between an emergency occurring and rescue assets arriving on scene.

What defines the Cospas-Sarsat system in a distress scenario?
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